Fred VanVleet has opened up about an uncomfortable church encounter after a fan confronted him over a lost sports betting parlay.
The Houston Rockets guard shared the story during an appearance on the Club 520 podcast, recalling how a bettor approached him while he was attending a church service.
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VanVleet said the incident underscored how gambling frustrations are increasingly spilling into everyday interactions.
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VanVleet describes church confrontation
During the podcast, Fred VanVleet explained that a man approached him inside the church and blamed him for ruining a wager.
The confrontation centred on a parlay tied to VanVleet’s performance in a recent game from the previous season, before he injured his ACL in the 2025 offseason.
“In the Lord’s house! You f—– up my parlay. In church… I said DAMN. Three thousand!”
According to VanVleet, the bettor claimed the ticket was worth $3,000, leaving the guard surprised that the grievance was aired in such a setting.
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Growing concerns over betting backlash
Fred VanVleet noted that criticism from bettors online has become routine, but said face-to-face encounters feel different.
He suggested that while social media complaints can be ignored, in-person confrontations are harder to dismiss.
The episode adds to broader conversations about the influence of legalised sports betting and the pressure it can place on individual athletes.
For VanVleet, the moment illustrated how frustration over missed wagers can surface far beyond arenas and social media feeds.
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